Work centering and holding device



Oct. 1, 1929. G. c. WARNER I 0 WORK CENTERING AND HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 1. 192a Patented Oct, 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT mm GEORGE c'. WARNER, OF LA roars, INDIANA, ASSIG-NOR To THE n n LUKE rnonucrs CORPORATION, OF LA FORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or nnrena WORK CENTERING AND HOLDING DEVICE V Application filed June 1, 1926. Serial. No. 113,040.

The object of this invention isto provide a novel center of snnple constructlon for use in turning or grinding pistons for internal combustion engines, and also for other work. Another object of the invention is to center the work yieldingly and without distorting it, and to hold the work rigidly without the necessity of first providing a perfect fit between the work and the holding means.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a center for turning or grinding pistons and the like which is simple in construction, easy to operate and automatic in adjusting itself to the Work. 7

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of the invention as ap plied to a cylinder piston,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is the body of the center, 6 is the centering collar and 7 is the holding ring. The body is reduced at 8 to receive the collar and the ring which are arranged thereon one above the other. The ring is provided with a plurality of recesses 9 to receive the springs 10 upon which the collar is seated to project above the body and ring. The ring has an upstanding peripheral flange 11 located at or about its outer edge and this flange is finished square at its upper end to engage the lower end of the piston 12 or other work. The uppe-rend of the collar is beveled at 13 to engage a bevel seat 14: in the end of the piston.

The ring rests upon the shoulder 15 formed by reducing the upper end of the body and the collar rests upon the springs 10 and is guided between the upper end of the body and the flange of the ring.

The invention is simple in construction and does not require special skill for use. The spring pressed collar centers the work and the ring holds the work rigidly in centralized. position. The yielding collar is sufiiciently rigid to centralize the work without distorting it, and the ring engages the end of the work to secure it rigidly in place While being turned or ground or otherwise operated upon. Heretofore it has been customary to arrange apply suflicient pressure thereon to hold the piston rigid, but it often happens that the pressure applied is sui'hcient to distort the piston because this pressure is applied within the end of the piston or other work not only to center the piston, but also to hold it rigid; and it has also been customary to provide a center made to fit within the end of the piston or other work and having a shoulder to engage the end of the piston, but such a center must be machined to accurately fit within and against the end of the piston or else the piston is liable to wab-ble during the turning or grinding operation and be damaged therein. My invention overcomes all of these disadvantages by providing a centering device which yieldingly centers the work under just sufiicient pressure for the purpose and without any liability of distorting the work and which also holds the work ri id b en a e-v ment with the endthereof and without requiring a special'fit between the parts. The collar engages the, piston yieldingly but under sufficient pressure to center the piston and to prevent wabbling because there is a sliding fit between the beveled faces of the collar and the piston, and the ring engages the piston under sufficient pressure to prevent the piston from turning. It is better to have the bevel 1 1- on the piston, but without this bevel the collar would act to center the piston and to prevent it from wabbling.

I have illustrated the invention in a form which I have found satisfactory for centering pistons of internal combustion engines and for other purposes, but I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction, arrangement and proportion of parts for it may be desirable to make changes for better adapting'the invention to different conditions as they arise, and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A center comprising a body, a yielding member arranged about said body for centering the work, said yielding member having a tapered outer end, an independent member for supportingthe yielding member and for engaging and holding the Work, and yielding means arranged Within the independent memher for urging the yielding member out- Wardly.

2. A center comprising a body, a tapered annular yielding member arranged about said body for centering the work, a relatively rigid annular member for supporting said yielding member for engaging and holding the Work, and a plurality of springs arranged Within the rigid member for urging the yielding member outwardly.

3. A center comprising a body, a ring seated on the body for engaging and holding the Work, said ring having a plurality of recesses therein, springs seated in said recesses, and a movable tapered annular collar arraged about said body and guided between the ring and the body and seated on said springs, said springs urging the collar outwardly for engaging and centering the Work.

4. A center comprising a body, a ring seated on the body and having an upstanding annular flange adjacent its outer edge for en gaging and holding the Work, said ring having a plurality of recesses therein, springs seated in said recesses, and a tapered collar arranged about said body and guided between said flange and the body and seated on said springs, said springs urging the collar outwardly for engaging and centering the Work.

5. A center comprising a body, a body hav ing a shoulder and areduced end above said shoulder, a ring fitting on the reduced end and seated against said shoulder, said ring having a plurality of recesses therein and an upstanding flange outside of said recesses for engaging and holding the Work, springs seated in said recesses, and a collar tapered to engage and center the Work and guided between the flange and the reduced end of the body and seated on said springs.

GEORGE C. WARNER. 

